The Impact of Gas Prices, Economic Conditions, and Resource Constraints on Climate Protection Strategies in U.S. Cities - Results of a 132-City ...
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The Impact of Gas Prices,
Economic Conditions, and
Resource Constraints
on Climate Protection Strategies
in U.S. Cities
Results of a 132-City Survey
June 2008
The United States Conference of Mayors
Douglas H. Palmer, Mayor of Trenton, President
Manuel A. Diaz, Mayor of Miami, Vice President
Greg Nickels, Mayor of Seattle, Chair, Advisory Committee
Tom Cochran, Executive Director and CEO
Mayors Climate Protection Task Force
James Brainard, Mayor of Carmel, Co-Chair
Greg Nickels, Mayor of Seattle, Co-Chair
A special acknowledgement to
the Members of the Mayors Climate Protection Council – Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers,
American Chemistry Council, DuPont, HDR, Johnson Controls, Inc., TCP, Inc., Wal-Mart Stores,
Inc., and Waste Management Inc. – who helped make this survey possible through their support of
the Mayors Climate Protection Center.
This survey may be downloaded at The U.S. Conference of Mayors Web site, www.usmayors.org.
2008 Climate Protection SurveyThe Impact of Gas Prices, Economic
Conditions, and Resource Constraints on
Climate Protection Strategies in U.S. Cities
Results of a 132-City Survey
June 2008
Mayors Climate Protection Center house gas emissions to be part of their broader
A major goal of the Mayors Climate Pro- efforts to address public health concerns.
tection Center, launched more than a year ago
by The U.S. Conference of Mayors, is to equip 2008 Survey
mayors in cities throughout the nation with the To build on the findings of its initial 2007
knowledge and tools that will have the greatest survey, and in preparation for the 76th Annual
impact on their climate protection efforts. The Conference of Mayors in Miami, the Center
Center supports the more than 850 mayors who asked signatories to the Mayors Climate Pro-
have already signed The U.S. Mayors Climate tection Agreement to respond to a survey on
Protection Agreement, including its call for fed- the current status of their efforts to implement
eral and state government policies and programs climate protection strategies in their cities.
that will contribute to meeting or beating the This report, a preliminary one which will lead
to a final report to be published by the Center
target of reducing global warming pollution lev-
els to seven percent below 1990 levels by 2012. later this summer, presents findings based on
(A description of this agreement follows at the responses received from mayors in 132 cities
end of this report.) The mayors who have signed across 39 states. (A list of these cities also fol-
the agreement to date represent cities having lows at the end of this report.)
more than 80 million residents. The survey was designed to assess: 1) the
One of the Center’s first initiatives was a impact of current high fuel prices on cities, their
survey of the signatories to the agreement which transit providers, and their climate protection
sought information on the kinds of climate pro- strategies; 2) the primary focus of cities’ cur-
tection activities that were underway or under rent climate protection efforts; 3) the impact of
consideration in their cities at that time. Pub- current economic conditions on cities’ climate
lished last summer, the survey found that, de- protection strategies; 4) the extent and value of
spite limited state and federal government sup- cities’ climate protection partnerships with other
port, mayors’ climate initiatives were moving jurisdictions and with educational institutions;
forward: High percentages of the survey cities 5) approaches to measurement of municipal
were using renewable energy, more energy-effi- greenhouse gas emissions; and 6) the cities’ use
cient lighting technologies, and alternative fuels of Energy Star products and programs.
and hybrid-electric technology in their fleets.
Most were requiring their new city buildings Gas Prices & Transportation
to be energy-efficient and were encouraging Not surprisingly, nearly nine in 10 of the
energy-efficient and sustainable construction mayors responding to the survey (89 percent)
techniques for private buildings. More than nine say that higher fuel prices are having a signifi-
in 10 mayors considered efforts to reduce green- cant or very significant impact on their city
2008 Climate Protection Surveybudget and operations. The impact is considered (76 percent) say they are considering additional
very significant in 31 percent of the cities. changes in land use and development practices
Asked what best describes their response to to support more alternatives to solo driving.
the impact of these higher costs on their bud-
gets, 38 percent of the mayors say they have Priorities
directed their city departments to find savings When asked to cite the current primary
to pay the higher costs. Twenty-six percent have focus of their city’s climate protection strategy,
allocated cash reserves to pay the higher fuel 41 percent of the mayors say it is making gov-
costs, and 23 percent have reduced spending in ernmental operations and services more energy
other program areas to pay the costs. Driving efficient. Others options cited are:
has been reduced in 13 percent of the cities. • public education, engagement and strategy
Forty-two percent of the mayors characterize development, by 24 percent;
the recent rate of growth in public transit use in • greening new buildings (e.g., residential,
their city as significant or very significant. The commercial, governmental), by 21 percent;
rate of growth is considered very significant in • retrofitting existing buildings (e.g., resi-
five percent of the cities. Forty-six percent of the dential, commercial, governmental), by six
mayors say their cities have experienced limited percent; and
growth in transit use. • transportation-related changes (e.g., fleets,
In 31 percent of the cities, local transit agen- fuels, alternatives to driving, etc.), by six
cies have requested additional city funding to percent.
support existing or expanded transit services. By far, the single biggest obstacle to mak-
Only 15 percent of the mayors report that ing progress on survey cities’ climate efforts is
state officials (e.g., their governor or state trans- inadequate financial resources; this was cited
portation secretary) have talked with city of- by 82 percent of the mayors responding. Other
ficials about redirecting existing federal or state problems are lack of clear community consen-
transportation priorities to increase funding for sus, cited by nine percent, and insufficient city
local transit services. staff expertise, cited by seven percent.
Three in four of the survey cities are served
by a metropolitan planning organization (MPO). City Finances
In less than half of these cities (46 percent), Nearly three in four mayors responding (73
MPO officials have talked with city officials percent) say current economic conditions, spe-
about changing current investment plans to cifically local revenue constraints, are adversely
increase investment in transit services. affecting their cities’ financial commitments to
climate protection initiatives that would help
Gas Prices & City Climate Strategies meet the goals set forth in the Mayors Climate
Three in four of the mayors (76 percent) Protection Agreement.
say rising gas prices prompted their city to Despite the current conditions, four in
give greater scrutiny and/or emphasis to the five of these mayors are continuing to com-
transportation sector in their climate protection mit resources to climate protection: Current
strategy. Well over half (54 percent) say these resource commitments are being maintained by
prices prompted their city to modify transporta- 36 percent of the mayors; smaller increases in
tion elements of their climate protection strat- resource commitments are being made by 46
egy. Of these mayors, nine in 10 (91 percent) say percent. Eighteen percent of the mayors say they
their city is placing more emphasis on providing are reducing their commitments.
alternatives to driving (e.g., transit, walking Eighty-four percent of the mayors say
and bicycling, carpools, etc), and three in four energy price hikes have prompted their cit-
2008 Climate Protection Surveyies to consider raising future capital and other percent) have already formed partnerships with
resource commitments to investments such as their local institutions. Sixty-five percent have
building retrofits, more fuel-efficient fleets, and partnered with institutions in the region or state
other improvements that reduce city energy use or expect to do so in the next year. Forty percent
and energy costs. of the cities report that these partnerships are
already in place.
Climate Partnerships Local School Systems – Nearly nine in 10
Other Jurisdictions – Mayors generally mayors (88 percent) report that they have part-
agree that collaboration with other area juris- nered with their local K-12 school system in
dictions will speed the achievement of climate efforts to achieve Mayors Climate Protection
protection goals by all involved. Eighty-seven Agreement goals or expect to do so in the next
percent of the mayors say that, during the past year. Partnerships are already in place in 61
year, they have reached out to officials in their percent of the cities.
own county and/or neighboring counties to col-
laborate on climate protection. Measurement
In addition, four in five of the mayors in the Thirty-six percent of the survey cities have
survey (80 percent) report that they have reached completed a baseline inventory of municipal
out to other mayors in their region to encourage greenhouse gas emissions; of these, more than
them to sign on to the Mayors Climate Protection three in four (77 percent) report that actual mea-
Agreement and/or take action on climate protec- surements were taken.
tion, and 72 percent say that, during the past year, One in four of the cities have completed a
their city has increased collaborative efforts with baseline inventory of citywide emissions. Mod-
other cities where mayors have joined as signato- els were used by the largest group of these cities
ries to the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. (48 percent); actual measurements were taken by
State and Federal Governments – The 42 percent; other methodologies were employed
survey asked mayors to assess the help they have by 10 percent.
received from other levels of government in their Forty-three percent of the cities have es-
climate protection efforts over the past year. A timated potential reductions from individual
small group (15 percent) says their state has been climate actions, either implemented or proposed.
very helpful, and an even smaller group (five per-
cent) puts the federal government in this category. ENERGY STAR
On the negative side, 24 percent say the state is More than nine in 10 survey cities (92
not at all helpful in supporting their efforts, and percent) purchase ENERGY STAR-qualified
41 percent say the federal government is not at all products when they are applicable to their needs.
helpful. Most of the mayors (61 percent) rate their For 32 percent of these cities, purchasing these
state government as being somewhat helpful, and energy-efficient products is required in their
just over half (53 percent) say the federal govern- procurement process.
ment has been somewhat helpful. Sixty-three percent of the survey cities have
Universities and Colleges – Four in five of leveraged ENERGY STAR tools or campaign
the cities which are home to universities and/or materials to lead by example in efforts to im-
colleges (81 percent) have partnered with these prove the energy efficiency of city-owned build-
institutions in support of efforts to reach Mayors ings, and half (51 percent) have used them to
Climate Protection Agreement goals or expect promote energy efficiency in the private sector.
to do so in the next year. Most of the cities (56
2008 Climate Protection SurveyClimate Protection Agreement 4. Increase the use of clean, alternative en-
Mayors of 850 cities of all sizes in all regions ergy by, for example, investing in “green
of the U.S. have now signed The U.S. May- tags”, advocating for the development of
ors Climate Protection Agreement, which was renewable energy resources, recovering
endorsed by the 73rd Annual U.S. Conference of landfill methane for energy production,
Mayors, held in Chicago in 2005. and supporting the use of waste to energy
In the agreement, the mayors urge the fed- technology;
eral government and state governments “to enact 5. Make energy efficiency a priority through
policies and programs to meet or beat the target building code improvements, retrofitting
of reducing global warming pollution levels to city facilities with energy efficient lighting
7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, including and urging employees to conserve energy
efforts to: reduce the United States’ dependence and save money;
on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of 6. Purchase only Energy Star equipment and
clean, economical energy resources and fuel-effi- appliances for city use;
cient technologies such as conservation, methane 7. Practice and promote sustainable build-
recovery for energy generation, waste to energy, ing practices using the U.S. Green Build-
wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor ing Council’s LEED program or a similar
vehicles, and biofuels.” They also urge the U.S. system;
Congress “to pass bipartisan greenhouse gas 8. Increase the average fuel efficiency of mu-
reduction legislation that includes clear timetables nicipal fleet vehicles; reduce the number
and emissions limits, and a flexible, market-based of vehicles; launch an employee education
system of tradable allowances among emitting program including anti-idling messages;
industries.” The mayors state that they will strive convert diesel vehicles to bio-diesel;
to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for 9. Evaluate opportunities to increase pump
reducing global warming pollution by taking a efficiency in water and wastewater sys-
wide range of actions in their own operations and tems; recover wastewater treatment meth-
communities. Among possible actions: ane for energy production;
1. Inventory global warming emissions in 10. Increase recycling rates in city operations
city operations and in the community, set and in the community;
reduction targets and create an action plan. 11. Maintain healthy urban forests; promote
2. Adopt and enforce land-use policies that tree planting to increase shading and to
reduce sprawl, preserve open space, and absorb CO2; and
create compact, walkable urban communi- 12. Help educate the public, schools, other
ties; jurisdictions, professional associations,
3. Promote transportation options such as business and industry about reducing global
bicycle trails, commute trip reduction warming pollution.
programs, incentives for car pooling and
public transit;
2008 Climate Protection SurveySURVEY CITIES
Opelika AL Miami FL Runnemede NJ
Buckeye AZ Pembroke Pines FL Stafford Township NJ
Flagstaff AZ Sarasota FL Trenton NJ
Gilbert AZ Tallahassee FL Santa Fe NM
Tucson AZ Tampa FL Rochester NY
Fayetteville AR Treasure Island FL Schenectady NY
North Little Rock AR Athens GA Syracuse NY
Alameda CA Macon GA Las Vegas NV
Albany CA Honolulu HI Reno NV
Arcata CA Highland Park IL Black Mountain NC
Beverly Hills CA Mundelein IL Durham NC
Burlingame CA Northbrook IL Highlands NC
Chico CA Palatine IL Lewisville NC
Dublin CA Rock Island IL Wake Forest NC
Hermosa Beach CA Rolling Meadows IL Akron OH
Long Beach CA Schaumburg IL Cincinnati OH
Los Angeles CA Urbana IL Lima OH
Mammoth Lakes CA Carmel IN North Olmsted OH
Manhattan Beach CA Evansville IN Orrville OH
Moraga CA Greencastle IN Corvallis OR
Pacific Grove CA Dubuque IA Oregon City OR
Pasadena CA Bowling Green KY Oxford PA
Pleasanton CA Frankfort KY Philadelphia PA
Roseville CA Lexington KY Providence RI
Sacramento CA Louisville KY Warwick RI
San Francisco CA New Orleans LA Greenville SC
San Rafael CA Lewiston ME Sumter SC
Santa Ana CA South Portland ME Chattanooga TN
Santa Barbara CA Edmonston MD Crossville TN
West Sacramento CA Greenfield MA Signal Mountain TN
Windsor CA New Bedford MA Arlington TX
Frisco CO Sommerville MA Austin TX
Glenwood Springs CO Truro MA Carrollton TX
New Castle CO Woburn MA Fort Worth TX
Bristol CT Berkley MI McKinney TX
Stamford CT Taylor MI Blacksburg VA
Stratford CT Roseville MN Pacific WA
Wilmington DE St. Louis MO Redmond WA
Aventura FL Tupelo MS Seattle WA
Dunedin FL Lincoln NE Tumwater WA
Greenacres FL Buena NJ Morgantown WV
Hallandale Beach FL Middletown Township NJ Bayfield WI
Holly Hill FL Northvale NJ New Berlin WI
Lauderhill FL Ocean Gate NJ Racine WI
2008 Climate Protection SurveyThe United States Conference of Mayors
Mayors Climate Protection Center
1620 I Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
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